Shanghai Noon

Director:

Tom Dey

Writers:

Miles Millar and Alfred Gough

Touchstone; PG-13; 105 minutes

Release:

5/00

Cast:

Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu

In this Western slapstick Jackie Chan plays a royal Chinese guard dispatched to America to retrieve a kidnapped princess. His name is Chon Wang. Outlaws led by Roy O'Bannon (Owen Wilson) intercept the ransom money then leave their leader for dead, which is where Chan finds him. Buddy repartee begins, with lots of jokes about misunderstanding, and together they set off for the gold and the girl.

Shanghai Noon features Jackie Chan Hollywood form; the film attempts to balance his breathtaking physical skill with equally goofy punchlines and gags. With California-boy sidekick Owen Wilson, it works. Chan is the real star of any movie he's in, but director Tom Dey packs in enough witticisms to keep pace with Chan's risky acrobatics. (Well, almost). As usual, Chan's stunt outtakes during the final credits are painfully amazing.